Riverview was the lone local team to make it to the finals of the annual News Herald Volleyball Tournament Championship on Saturday, but it was visiting Dexter who stole the show.

Dexter beat the Bucs in straight sets (30-28, 25-19) for the championship at Lincoln Park high school.

Riverview led most of the first set, but things stayed close after a 12-12 tie. The Bucs pulled away for a 23-19 lead, but Dexter continued its comeback and the teams saw ties at 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 before Dexter got the kill for the win.

Riverview took the first lead of the second set, but Dexter soon pulled away, outscoring the Bucs 7-1 and continued to build its lead.

But Riverview pushed its way back in and brought it within three several times, before Dexter pulled away for the win.

“My girls have been the comeback kids all year and they’ve had to handle a few different changes,” Dexter Coach Deanna Day said.

Day’s team did not even know they would be in the tournament until Tuesday when they found out their contract for a Bloomfield Hills tournament hadn’t been received and Lincoln Park had an opening.

The championship win gave Dexter its 40th win of the season.

“The team really came together,” Day said. “When push came to shove, they stepped up.

“That’s the one thing they do very well. When they know they have to dig in, they know they can do it. And they have complete confidence in themselves and their teammates.”

To get to the finals, Dexter had a bye in the first round of the gold playoffs and then knocked off Trenton and Roosevelt.

Riverview had three tough matches against Garden City, Allen Park and Grosse Ile; all of which went to three sets.

“It was a good day,” Riverview Coach Tony Budimerovich said. “I thought we played well in pool and then came out and had three tough matches in the playoffs.”

Budimerovich said his team had the chances against Dexter in the first set, but unfortunately couldn’t finish it.

“In the second we got down and could have easily thrown in the tank,” he said. “We kept cutting the lead, but at the end of the day, they just finished it off. They’re a good team.”

Last year, the Bucs were bounced in the semifinals by eventual champ Grosse Ile and Budimerovich encouraged his team to stay positive after the loss this year.

“I thought they needed to keep their heads up,” he said. “I think whenever you lose in the finals, you’re gonna be down a little bit, but if they keep the day in perspective, it was a great day of volleyball.”

To get to the gold round, Riverview defeated Detroit Renaissance (25-21, 25-12) and Truman (25-8, 25-16) and split with Flat Rock (25-16, 27-25) in pool play.

In the gold bracket, they worked hard and came out on the winning side of three matches that went to three sets. The Bucs defeated Garden City (25-16, 25-12, 17-15), Allen Park (26-24, 25-23, 15-8) and Grosse Ile (25-12, 25-18, 15-9).